The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

A scruffy little street mutt finds a home in this small, sweet tale. Seeking refuge from the streets, he finds a homeless shelter where a sympathetic lady falls in love and takes him home. The story is told in short declarative sentences that bridge themselves from page to page with ellipses, creating a smooth flow that never allows the reader to doubt the eventual happy ending. King’s signature line-and-watercolor illustrations portray a wiry gray-and-white mutt with a winsomely rounded snout—the only real mystery here is why no one picked him up before the shelter lady. Full-bleed spreads share space with vignettes that move the dog through the story in a pace that perfectly matches the text. That Mutt Dog and his family are thoroughly happy together is evident in every joyful line, from his ears flapping up with delight at the sight of a can of dog food to an intimate scene of the lady reading to Mutt Dog and her daughter in bed at night. If it lacks the mastery of Marc Simont’s The Stray Dog (2001), it is still nicely satisfying in its own right. (Picture book. 3-7)

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